Filipina tennis star Alex Eala made a commanding start to her 2026 US Open campaign, defeating American qualifier Mary Stoiana in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to book her place in the second round in New York.

Alex Eala Defeats Mary Stoiana, Books Spot in US Open Second Round

The 17th-seeded Eala delivered an impressive performance against Stoiana, taking control early and maintaining her momentum throughout the match. The victory marked another confident Grand Slam showing for the Filipina, who continues to establish herself as one of the most exciting names in international tennis.

Eala dominated the opening set, racing to a 6-1 win with her aggressive baseline game and composed presence on court. Stoiana, playing in the main draw after successfully coming through the qualifying tournament, found little room to settle as Eala consistently dictated the rallies.

The Filipina star carried that momentum into the second set, where she once again took control to seal a 6-2 victory and complete the straight-sets triumph.

The win sends Eala into the second round, where she is set to face another tough challenge as she looks to continue her run at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Eala entered this year’s US Open with growing expectations following a remarkable rise on the WTA Tour. Seeded No. 17, she arrived in New York as the highest-ranked Filipina in tennis history and one of the tournament’s rising stars. Her 2026 campaign has included major milestones, highlighted by her continued climb in the world rankings and increasingly strong performances on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

The US Open also holds a special place in Eala’s journey. She won the girls’ singles title at the tournament in 2022, while her professional career has since continued to break new ground for Philippine tennis.

Against Stoiana, Eala showed why she has become one of the most closely watched young players in women’s tennis. Her 6-1, 6-2 victory was a statement of intent as she begins another campaign at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

For Filipino tennis fans, the result offers another reason to follow Eala’s journey closely. With a place in the second round secured, Eala now turns her attention to the next challenge as she looks to extend her stay in New York and continue adding new chapters to her already historic career.

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